Kona Ironman 2018 Predictions

[_David_]

 

Love his honesty.

[Chris_]

That positioning looks uncomfortable. I can't imagine hanging onto the bars like that for 90km, never mind 180km. They must have tested this set up in a wind tunnel and found it is slightly faster. Looks very odd.  

 

The bar concept looks very cool. I would be a little concerned about safety and reliability of moving parts on the front end of my bike. 

 

As far as I remember it makes no difference whether your arms are pointed out horizontal (like most of us) or upwards like this guy, its the same size surface area hitting the air head on.

 

But I suppose it makes an aero difference removing the side bars. 

 

The only problem with this is that you can't really get your back any lower. 

 

We laughed when we saw him, it looks quite ridiculous

[ScottCM]

Love his honesty.

 

Absolutely.

 

A Lot of what he says stems from his addiction recovery program, but i'm happy for him now that he has realised what needs to be done and has decided to be committed to that. I can't wait to see what he is capable of with a proper coach.

 

Next season is going to be exciting as heck when Frondo is fit and now that Gomes has had his introductory to Kona. Its going to take someone special to knock Lange off the top.

[shaper]

As far as I remember it makes no difference whether your arms are pointed out horizontal (like most of us) or upwards like this guy, its the same size surface area hitting the air head on.

 

But I suppose it makes an aero difference removing the side bars. 

 

The only problem with this is that you can't really get your back any lower. 

 

We laughed when we saw him, it looks quite ridiculous

There are a number of TT specialists and triathletes trying this position ... as wind tunnel testing is being used more and more and marginal gains can be had with minimising the frontal area and also the flow of air over the arms and through the TT extensions.

 

Cameron Wurf has arm pads all the away along the extension bars 3D printed, so that his arms and extensions are one.

 

Lucy Charles also has been in the wind tunnel and had arm position and extensions similar to that of Costes but not as sever an angle to put the hands that close to the face.

 

There is obviously some merit in it, irrespective of the Morf bars being used.

 

[shaper]

Absolutely.

 

A Lot of what he says stems from his addiction recovery program, but i'm happy for him now that he has realised what needs to be done and has decided to be committed to that. I can't wait to see what he is capable of with a proper coach.

 

Next season is going to be exciting as heck when Frondo is fit and now that Gomes has had his introductory to Kona. Its going to take someone special to knock Lange off the top.

Whilst I like Sanders and the rawness of his post race analysis is refreshing, I fear even with a coach the overall talent is not there to beat Lange and Frodeno.... pure gut and determination has got him to the podiums, a coach will get him to train smarter rather than bashing down mental barriers..... will it be enough to reach the top, am not so sure..... will hold thumbs that am proven wrong... as always good to see an underdog achieve greatness!!

[Chris_]

Whilst I like Sanders and the rawness of his post race analysis is refreshing, I fear even with a coach the overall talent is not there to beat Lange and Frodeno.... pure gut and determination has got him to the podiums, a coach will get him to train smarter rather than bashing down mental barriers..... will it be enough to reach the top, am not so sure..... will hold thumbs that am proven wrong... as always good to see an underdog achieve greatness!!

 

I agree, I don't see him winning on a normal day. I assume all these top guys train to the same mental levels, there comes a point where lack of pure talent will eventually be the final decider.

 

I do however see him winning on a ridiculous day. whether its through a hurricane on race day or something where he just has to vasbyt through and all the other pro's drop out for 'it just wasn't working for me'. 

 

The Des Linden of Boston Marathon. Head down, never give up.

[Chris_]

I haven't listened to any post race things yet, but I wonder where Gomez's head is at. Is he going to hit it hard next year, or did the length of this and a pretty poor run hurt him mentally. 

 

If he works out proper race strategy for IM, it'll be THE BEST to see him and Lange running/sprinting for the top step. No one will be close.

[ScottCM]

[EmJayZA]

What is happening with Suzie Cheetham? Are Ryf and Charles just completely outshining her? 

 

From her Instagram:

 

 

susiecheetham

Wow, what a day! I went into this race in the best shape of my life. I was confident I could deliver. But Kona is Kona and it’s not as simple as showing up in good shape. I’ve seen Kona get the better of people and had never experienced it until yesterday. Not the day for a personal worst when the women out front are quite literally flying! I’ve spent the last 12hrs licking my wounds but now it’s time to enjoy a little R&R before we plan our next move. Thanks so much for the support out there & to the people and partners who support me along the way. Congratulations to all who raced and the incredible performances up at the front of the race.  @witsupcom @stefhanson .

 

 

 

What a classy lady. 

[_David_]

What is happening with Suzie Cheetham? Are Ryf and Charles just completely outshining her? 

 

From her Instagram:

 

 

 

 

What a classy lady. 

 

Not just Ryf and Charles she finished in 26 place. 

 

I think it has to do with very talented ITU athletes moving to long course. If you want to be on the podium you need to be strong in all three disciplines.

[shaper]

Not just Ryf and Charles she finished in 26 place. 

 

I think it has to do with very talented ITU athletes moving to long course.

Also, I suspect many considered the near perfect conditions and pushed that little harder on the bike leg... only to fade badly in the heat and humidity on the run leg.....

[Rick Sanchez]

Not sure how I feel about these MORF bars on Antony Costes bike.

 

http://www.morf-tech.com

 

 

Almost burst out laughing when I saw this post 

[Wheelsuck]

Almost burst out laughing when I saw this post 

The bars can drop down apparently, why the technical officials didnt ping him I wouldnt know because he clearly has limited control over that bike, that being said the draftfest going on the bike course probably explains the level of refereeing. 

[nochain]

What happened to Frodeno? Sfter his dominant performance at 70.3 I was looking forward to see him race Lange.

[Fred van Vlaanderen]

What happened to Frodeno? Sfter his dominant performance at 70.3 I was looking forward to see him race Lange.

He announced that he would miss Kona due to a stress fracture in his hip

[Chris_]

The biggest deception of my sporting career ... 
It took me a while to finally write a few things down, sorry for that.

 

For the 3rd year in a row, other people decided about my result at the World championships Ironman in Hawaii. It's my 2nd blue card (5min penalty) in 3 editions ... Am I a drafter? An unfair competitor? Do I look for unfair advantages because I'm not strong enough? 
At least, that's what people will think now!
It has been immediately communicated: Drafting penalty: Van Lierde
There's no way for me to fight or protest that penalty, no rights, nothing.

 

The day started really good for me though. A fast start put me right in the front of the race. Just before the turn around I was not able to swim with the fastest group but I was leading the second group all the way back. Once on the bike I left the group immediately behind me. Followed Cam Wurf for a couple of km and once on the Queen K highway I was on my own. Catching one after another athlete (Rana, McNamee, Chevrot,...) to make my way to the front group. Around km 50 I was joined by Dreitz and Lange when I had just passed Currie. A few km later the head referee shows up next to me and shows immediately a blue card for drafting! NO WAY I was or I had been drafting !!!

 

I could not believe what I saw, disbelief, even not capable to say or ask something to the referee. After a few seconds he took off ... 2 options, continue and DQ afterwards or slowing down at the penalty tent a few km down the road, take up the 5min penalty, and try to find my good rhythm back. I chose the 2nd option but never found my good legs, my good mental game back. I was a broken man, still trying to make the best of it on the next 120km biking...

 

In the end, all that I wanted to do, was finishing. No fighting spirit left, some ups and some big downs in my thoughts ... A very poor marathon. That's not what I train and live for with my family and entourage. Lost the pleasure of racing Hawaii... 

 

Time for some rest and some family time, that's what we all deserve now. Thanks to my sponsors, partners and team for another season with 2 big victories! Ironman France and Alpe d'Huez LD, these are the ones to remember from 2018.

 

Talk soon!

Fred